Bowling-alley.



Patented Feb. 27, I900. C. W. CRAWFORD.

BOWLING ALLEY.

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No. 644,546. Patented Feb. 27, I900. C. W. CRAWFORD.

BOWLING ALLEY.

(Application filed Nov. 3, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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PAT NT BOWLING-ALLEY;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,546, dated February27, 1906. Application filed November 3, 1899. Serial No. 735,653. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. CRAW- FORD, of Cincinnati, (Evanston,) inthe county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Bowling- Alleys; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification.

My invention relates wholly to that part of a bowling-alley whichcomprises the means or contrivan'ce employed to spot (or set upaccurately on the pin-platform portion of the alley-bed) the pins to bebowled at.

Previous to my invention various devices or contrivances have .beendevised having for their object to reset or spot the pins of abowling-alley more accurately than this is always or even usually doneby the boys generally employed, to send home the bowled balls, and resetthe pins for the players of whatever game may be played on the alleyas,for instance, tenpins, ninepins, &c.-but all the constructions ofpin-setting devices or mechanisms heretofore devised that I know of maybe properly divided into two generaviz. first, that genus in which themechanism for resetting the pins has some sort of permanent flexibleconnection with the bases or lower ends of the pins which operates tofirst draw or pull the displaced pins home to the localities from whichthey were knocked and to then force or pull the pins into erectpositions, with their lower ends exactly on the respective spots onwhich the pins belong, and, second, that genus in which the pins are notpermanently connected with any part of the mechanism for resetting them;but the latter comprises either a perforated vertically-movablepin-platform surface into the holes of which the boy puts the pins whensaid movable device is slightly elevated and which then, being caused todescend to the level of stationary spotted surfaces that are in the sameplane with the alley-bed, deposits the pins on'said spot-surfaces and inits lowered position constitutes, in connection with said spot-surfaces,the entire top surface of the pin-platform, or else comprises a fixedpin-platform which is perforated with holes larger than the extremelower ends of the said spot-surfaces (actuated by suitable mechanism) tothe level of the pin-platforms surface the pins will be lifted (allexactly spotted) until their bottoms, the surfaces of the spot devices,and the stationary perforated top of the pin-platform all come flush orinto plane. In the various species of these two genera of pin-settingmeans for bowling-alleys there, however, exist serious practical defectsor objections which so far have rendered them of little or no use forfull-sized alleys on which are played the games usually engaged in bybowlers.

The first-named genus under various specific constructions isobjectionable, because the bases of the pins being permanentlyconnecting with cords or chains for resetting them the pins are not freeto be knocked about or to fly about, (against each other and the sidebuffers of the alley,) as is requisite in practice in the playing of thegames usu ally played on a tenpin-alley, and, furthermore, the presenceof the chains or cords on the pin-platform interferes with the rollingof the balls upon the surface thereof. Indeed, this genus of pin-settingapparatus, as is well known to bowlers and alley-keepers, thoughpossessing some utility for the purposes of toy alleys, has never goneinto use in fullsized alleys or is now never used thereon.

The second-named genus of pin-setting apparatus is objectionable onaccount of the impracticability of having either a movable perforatedpin-platform surface, as in one spe cies, or movable spot surfaces ordevices working up and down within the holes of such perforatedplatform. In a full-sized tenpin alley it is necessary to have thepin-platform wholly stationary and unperforated or otherwisesuperficially mutilated with the pinspots made thereon, and thepractical prob lem is simply to set up the pins on these spots withgreater accuracy that in practice is certain of accomplishment by thepit-boy engaged to do the pin-setting by hand. He has to work quick,will not always take pains to set every pin exactly in its proper spot,and, while it is of course physically possible for a pit-boy to alwaysset the pins up accurately, in practice this is not possible.

, To provide for use a mechanical substitute for doing always accuratelywhat has heretofore been done by hand is the new idea involved in myinventionpvhich, to the end and object of eflectuating this new ideainto a tangible form, consists in the use, in combination with theordinary-i. 6., the usual fixed spotttad-pin-surface of a bowling-alleybed, of mechanism adapted to receive from the hands of the pit-boy a setof pins and operating to accuratelydeposit said pins on the spots of thealley-bed and to then move out of the way until again needed to performsaid function, all as will be hereinafter more fully explained and aswill be most particularly poin ted out in the claims of thisspecification.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use bowling-alleysprovided with my new genus of pin-setter, I will now proceed to morefully describe the latter, referring by reference-numbers to theaccompanying drawings, which form part of this specification and inwhich I have shown my invention carried out in that form in which I haveso far practiced it, though it may of course be carried out in otherspecific forms of mechanism.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my new pin-setter with thepin receiver and depositor shown in an elevated position. Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the carrier in its lowered position. Fig. 3 isaside view looking toward the left of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a side Viewlooking toward the right of Fig. 1.

On the floor or other part of the alley two guide-standards 5 aremounted, the standards being formed with grooves or guideways 6 in theirinner faces and grooves or guideways 7 in their outer faces. In theguideways 6 shoes or runners 8 respectively slide, and these runners arefastened rigidly to a beam 9, which extends horizontally across betweenthe standards 5 and supports the carrier, which comprises side bars 10,rigidly joined by transverse bars or other connections 11. Mounted oneach side bar 10 are two independentlyniovable slides 12, connected inpairs by the tenpin-holders 14. These holders 14 consist of a number ofpairs of bars formed with registering curved openings 15, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. The members of the several pairs of bars are arranged tomove toward and from each other from the position shown in Fig. 1 to theposit-ion shown in Fig. 2, and re- Versely. Fig. 1 is the closedposition in which the tenpins are held, as indicated by the dotted lineson Fig. 3 and' full lines in Fig. 4, and Fig. 2 is the opened position.The members of the holders 14 are moved to their several positions bymeans of the slides 12, to which alternate holder members 14 areconnected, as shown.

For operating the slides 12 to cause the slides at each side of thecarrier to move oppositely I provide two bell-crank levers 16, whichhave links 17 connecting them with the respective slides. Thebell-cranks are also connected by links 18 with a crank-disk 19,pivotally mounted on one of the cross braces or beams 11. By throwingthis disk 19 the bell-crank levers 16 will be operated and theirmovement transmitted to the slides 12, as will be understood. Thecrank-disk 19 has an arm 20, with which two links 21 are connected, thelinks extending oppositely to the respective sides of the carrier andare there respectively connected with the long arms of differentialcrank levers 22, fulcrumed, respectively, on the side beams 10 of thecarrier. Mounted at approximately the middle portion of each side beam10 is a bell-crank lever 23, which are connected with the respectivelevers 22 by means of links 24. Fulcrumed on the respective shoes orrunners 8 are tripping-levers 25 and 26, which are respectivelyconnected with the bell-crank levers 23 by means of links 27. The lever26 is adapted to engage with a detent 2S, fastened to the adjacentstandard 5, when the tenpin carrier is in the lowered position shown bythe full lines in Fig. 3, thereby to trip the lever 26 and throw theseveral parts 23, 22, and 10, so as to separate the members of theclamps 14, and thus release the tenpins, and the lever 25 is adapted toengage with a detent 2!) at the upper end of the corresponding standard5 when the carrier is in the raised position shown in Fig. 4, thusthrowing the several parts connected therewitl1-viz., 23, 22, and 19-soas to move the members of the clamps 14 together, thus placing them inposition again to receive the tenpins.

The carrier is normally raised, as shown in Fig. 4, by means of weights30, which slide in the grooves 7 of the standards 5 and which areconnected with the shoes or runners 8 by means of cords or otherflexible connections 31. These weights are adjusted so that they willraise the carrier when it is empty; but when the carrier is loaded withthe tenpins the weights 30 will be preponderated and the carrier, withthe tenpins, will drop to the position indicated by the full lines onFig. 3.

In using the invention, assuming that the carrier is in the positionshown in Fig. 1 and that the lever 25 has struck its detent 29, thusmoving the sections of the clamps 14 together, the tenpins should beplaced within the clamps, as shown, and when the last tenpin is in placethe weight on the carrier will be such as to preponderate the weights30, and the carrier will descend to the floor of the alley, thusstriking the lever 26 against its detent 28 and throwing open the clamps14, the tenpins meanwhile having been deposited accurately upon thespots or marks on the floor of the alley indicating the proper positionof the tenpins. As the carrier is relieved of the weight of the tenpins,the weights 30 644,5Zis

will assert themselves and automatically return the carrier to itsuppermost position, thus placing it ready to be used again when thetenpins have been knocked down by the players and are again to be set orspotted.

It should be understood that the openings 15 in the members of theclamps 14 are so arranged as to accurately conform to the position ofthe spots on the floor of the alley, thus insuring that the tenpins willbe accurately placed.

Having now so fully described the construction and operation of my newpin-setter, made in that form shown in the drawings, that those skilledin the art can easily understand and practice my invention in eithersaid shown and specific form or under some modified construction, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination, with the usual, spotted, end portion of the bed of abowling-alley, a mechanism adapted to receive a set of pins andoperating to place the said set of pins on the spots of the alley-bedand then move away, to permit the usual free use of the alley-bed andspotted pins; substantially as set forth.

2. In a mechanism for spotting pins on an alley-bed, a carrier adaptedto receive a set of pins; means for moving said carrier, and its pins tothe proper position to bring the bases of said pins onto theirrespective spots on the alley-bed and means for then releasing said pinsfrom said carrier; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a pin-setting mechanism, the combination, with a carrier, movabletoward and from the surface on which the pins are to be set up andactuated in its movement toward said surface by the weight of the pinscarried, of means for effectuating the retention of the pins in the saidcarrier until it shall have carried them to their destination; and meansfor then automatically releasing the pins from the carrier to permit thelatter to be moved out of the way and into a position for reuse whenneeded; substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for placing tenpins, the combination of guidedstandards, shoes run ning vertically thereon, a carrier attached to theshoes, tenpin-clamps mounted on the carrier, means for moving the clampsto open and close the same, and detents arranged to operate said means.

5. In an apparatus for placing tenpins, the combination of avertically-movable carrier, clamps mounted thereon, the clampscomprising members movable toward and from each other to clamp thetenpins, bell-crank levers having connection with the members to movethe same, a crank-disk having connection with the bell-crank levers,tripping-levers movable with the carrier and connected with thecrank-disk, and stationary detents engaged by the tripping'levers tothrow the members of the clamps.

6. An apparatus for placing tenpins, the apparatus comprising a carriermovable toward and from the floor, clamps mounted on the carrier andcomprising members movable toward and from each other to clamp the ten-.pins, and means for operating the clamps.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of October,1899.

CHARLES W. CRAWFORD. In presence of GEO. W. EDWARDS, BEN. V. TYLER.

